Settlers Cottage

Settlers Cottage is located on Pearson Street, on the western side of Herdsman Lake. It is less than 1km from Churchlands Green.

This cottage is the only remaining intact example of 40 timber cottages that were part of a government land scheme between 1930 and 1931. This government scheme involved extension subdivision and developing the lake into an agricultural area.

Map of Herdsman Lake in 1952 showing the subdivision of blocks. Photo credit: State Library of Western Australia.

However, the settlers of the 1930s faced considerable difficulties from the beginning due to the poor condition of the soil and continual flooding. The cottage was purchased by Frederick Hatcher in May of 1933. Mr Hatcher was an ex-soldier and carpenter, and lived in the cottage until his death in 1960.

It was then purchased by brothers Giovanni and Angelo Gava, who established market gardens elsewhere on the lake. It remained in the Gava family until 1991, when it was purchased by the state government.

Due to the widening of Pearson Street, Settlers Cottage was relocated 75 metres east in 1995. At this time, it was placed on the state government's permanent Register of Heritage Places. It has been under the care of the The National Trust of Western Australia since 1997.

The cottage serves as a reminder of the economic hardship for soldiers, migrants, and settlers who lived in the 1930s. The contrast between the agricultural allotments with their basic timber cottages and the present residential developments in Churchlands (particularly Churchlands Green) is quite remarkable.

Today the cottage is home to Settlers Art Studios under a lease arrangement with the National Trust.

Settlers Cottage in 2024.